Building construction



Sept. 17, 1929. P. L. MQKEE 1,728,688

BUILDING CONS TRUCTION Filed Dec. 19, 1927 WW z;

Patented Sept. 17, 192.9

PHILIP L. MCKEE, or CHICAGO, rrmnorsfi BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Applicationfiled December 19, 1927; Serial Ruiz-119,988.]

My invention relates to building constructions and particularly to theconstruction of the ridge pole of a greenhouse.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a more compact andsturdy ridge pole construction by the use of a metallic I-beam in place.of the heretofore used rectangular wooden beam disposed immediatelybeneath the ridge pole cap, which const-ruction, because of thethickness of f the web of the Lbeam, permits the window sashes which arehinged to the ridge pole cap, to be more securely fastened'to this I-beam while at the same time insuring a greater overlap of the ridge polecap on the upper surfaces of these window sashes, thereby positivelyprecluding the leakage of water into the greenhouse at the junction of pp the ridge pole and the hinged window sashes.

Still another object of my invention resides in the utilization of ametallic I-beam as the main member of the ridge pole which provides abetter support for the swinging window sashes, and also permits of theutilization of a narrower ridge pole cap to which the swinging windowsashes are hinged while at the same time permits theridge pole cap to bemore securely attached to the I-beam. i

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from a perusalof the following specification when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings,

3 wherein Figure 1 is a side view partly in section, of my improvedconstruction.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same with certain parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view directly through the ridge poleconstruction, and

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to my improved greenhouse construction, it will be seenthat the greenhouse or other structure comprises the vertical walls 2,which in the present instance are provided with the usual transparentpanes, and the upwardly inclined 59 roof beams 4, preferably of metal.These roof beams .4 are'bolted orriveted, as at 6, to a metal cap 8which capand'a central support 10 are bolted. and carried the verticalpole-like support 12' in turn supported from supports 13 mounted ,on'the ground or floor of the building, the support ing piece 10 has "ahorizontal flange" to which is bolted or riveted, as at 14,the;preferably metallic I -beam 16. The cross sectional shape of theupper portionofthis beam'l6 isof particular usefland advantage as 'ameans ,for supporting the swinging window sashes and ridge pole capiofmy present construction. j As clearly shown, this'I- b'ea'rn 16 has avery thinweb which terminatesat its upper end in a relatively thickflange j18jhaving opposed portions. The ridge. pole cap 20, preferablyof wood,.overlapsfand is supported upon thisflange 18, being securedthereto as by meansof screws 22. The under side of this ridge polecap iscut'away as at 24, to permit the entry. of the opposed "window sashes 26and 28which are hinged,-as at and 32, to'the opposed sides of the ridgepole cap 20 and to the upper faces of these window sashes 26 and 28.These Window sashes carry the usual transparent panes 34-,and 36 and'areeadapted to swingoutwa'rdly to permit the ingress of fresh air intothe greenhouseorothe'r structure, there being suitable lever connections38 for operating these windows tolopen; and close them. In addition, Iprovide additional window sashes 40 and'42 which form no partof thepresent invention, since the details of the manner of constructing mygreenhouse with the pairs ofwindows 34; andf iO and 36 and 42 arrangedon opposite sides of the ridge pole and operating to admit fresh air'tothe upper portion of the greenhouseyarecov ered in a co-pendingapplication filed con-r currently with this case; 1 The present caserelates to thedetails of construction of the ridge poleitself and themannerin which the windows 34 and 36am hin'ggg'edly cone nectedtheretoso as to swingto open and closed position.

- It will be "noticed that the inter ads of I the sashe 26 and 28are1suitably cut away 0" or chamfered, as at 44, so as to permit thesesashes to swing about their hinged pivots 30 free of the bolts or rivets14, thereby permitting the doors to move freely upwardly to openposition. By reason of this very compact construction, I am enabled tobring the inner pivotedends of these sashes 26 and 28 wellberieaththeridge polecap 20 so that by reason of this pronounced overlap, anydanger of water leaking through the hinged joint and into-the'greenhouseis eliminated. At the same timebyreason of this thinness of the web 16,not only is this pronounced overlap made-possible, but also the ridgepole cap 20 need not be as wide as heretofore, sincethe chamfered endsof the sashes. are brought closer together. In addition, by use of theI-beam 16,21 much more sturdy construction is possible, since itiperhitsof the use of a relatively broad flange "18 with a'thin Web portionandsimilarily relatively broad lower flange 11 mounted on the horizontalflange of the support carried bylthe pole 12. The advantages of thisconstruction are. apparent when it will be remembered that the. need ofavery sturdy mounting or'ridge pole construction is necessary, becausethe sashes 26 and 28 are hingedly connectedthereto'. This construction,while. demanding the utmost rigidity and strength, must bealsopractically water tight, so that the rain is not able to. leak into thegreenhouse or building at. the hinged a sash having its upper facesecured to the lower leaf of said hinge, whereby said sash, when inclosed position, engages the under side of said flange and the verticalwall of said web of the cross beam.

2. In a greenhouse construction, the comvof said cap, and a window sashhaving its .upper face secured to the lower leaf of said hinge, thecorners of the window sash at the hinged end being chamfered so as topresent bearing surfaces toengage the lower flange surface and websurface of the I-beam, whereby said sashis adapted to snugly fit withinthe corner of the I-beam presented by the flange and web thereof so asto positively prevent the leakage ,of water through the hingedstructure.In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' PHILIP L. MoKEE.

junction of these sashes 26. and 28, and'this is accomplished by thepronounced overlap of the relatively narrow ridge pole cap 20 which inturn is made possible by'the use of the metallicI-beam having the thinweb portion which permits the inner ends of the sashes to bebrought veryclose together and well beneath the underside of the flange portion 18ofthe I-beam, so that whenin closed position,,the chamferededges ofthese sashes will snugly. restnot only against the sides of the webportion of the beam, but against the under surfaces of the-flange 18forming a leak-proof and weather proof joint at this point.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as newand'desiretosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In airidge pole construction for ,e a greenhouse, in1c0n1binationwith the upwardly inclinedlroofbeams, a metallic cross beamsupported atrthe upper ends of said converging beams having a thin web and a;transversely extending upper flange prov ding opposed over-hangingportions, a r dgejp'olef-cap overlying-and secured to said flange of thecross beam with the outer portions of the cap overlying and slightlyoverhanging'the opposed ends of said flange, a'hi'nge'secured to eachopposed lateral wall of said cap with the. pivotal .axis of said hingeatthe,1owe1 qst ,ed e of said cap,

